Folsom leaders question mayor’s use of donated car

Several aldermen in Folsom said they want an investigation into why the mayor has been personally using a donated car that was meant for the town's police department.

The vehicle has logged nearly 28,000 miles, plus fuel costs, since its donation by the Causeway Commission in May 2011.

Alderman Lance Willie said he wants to know where Mayor Phillip Bickham has been taking the car, and why.

"I looked at the records -- we looked at the records -- what city business do we have the night before Christmas at 5 o'clock? Opelousas, which is hours away from here. There's no city business. Everybody's at home enjoying time with their families," Willie said.

The issue was brought up during Monday night's Folsom Council meeting, but Bickham was not there because of a surgery, officials said. He is expected to be out the rest of the week.

Mayor Pro Tem Jill Mathies said she was concerned with what the mayor was doing with the car, but said that the town has no written policy in place regarding the use of city vehicles.

"How often was the mayor using the village car, in reference to using personal and public, in reference to the mileage and the gas being bought for the car?" Mathies asked.

Village attorney Del Talley suggested that the car be parked until a written policy is in place for the use of all city vehicles.

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